Destiny: Rising has finally arrived after years of Destiny sticking to consoles and PC, bringing a gacha twist that no one expected. Developed by NetEase Games with Bungie only loosely involved, the title reimagines the universe in an alternate timeline designed for mobile. The result is a free-to-play shooter that blends MMO elements with gacha pulls, offering a surprising entry point for both veterans and newcomers.
Unlike Destiny 2’s notoriously confusing onboarding, Rising introduces lore and mechanics in a way that even franchise outsiders can follow. At its core, the game plays like a first-person shooter with light MMO mechanics, character skills, and raids, making it unlike the typical turn-based gacha.
Gameplay and Modes in Destiny: Rising
Players step into the role of Wolf, a Lightbearer who commands abilities, weapons, and ultimates. The combat loop allows toggling between first- and third-person perspectives, a rarity in the mobile gacha space. Each mission offers unique stage layouts, full voice acting, and cinematic presentation that often feels closer to a console title than a phone game.
Beyond story chapters, Destiny: Rising features multiplayer raids, cooperative objectives, and a central hub called Haven for player interaction. Raids are necessary for farming upgrade materials, while casual modes like fishing, racing, and even a card game inspired by Gwent keep the grind from feeling too rigid. The Jangi Metro zone also adds semi-open exploration with public events, pushing it closer to MMO territory.
PvP comes in the form of Shifting Gates, a six-team competition where players gather data modules and fight to control objectives. A fair play mechanic resets stats to create balance, though roster strength still depends on which character you pull from the gacha banners.
Gacha System and Monetization
Destiny: Rising’s gacha setup feels unusually fair compared to most mobile titles. With a 1% chance for mythic characters and a hard pity at 60 pulls, players are guaranteed the banner unit without the dreaded 50/50 split seen in other games. Pity also carries over between banners, and there are no separate weapon banners—gear must be farmed through gameplay.
Monetization is relatively restrained. A monthly pass costs $5, the premium battle pass is also $5, and the founder’s pack runs at $20 with bonuses. While whale packs exist, they offer poor value, and the game avoids drowning players in multiple overlapping passes or constant flash sales. Compared to the infamously aggressive monetization of Diablo Immortal, Rising feels far more player-friendly.
Long-Term Value and Concerns
For those invested in gacha titles, Destiny: Rising offers a grind that is both lenient and flexible. Stamina refills at a steady rate, allowing players to log in every few days without falling behind. Artifact farming even allows unlimited runs without stamina, giving grinders freedom to min-max.
However, issues do remain. The lack of a sweep system means daily chores can feel repetitive. The game also introduces multiple currencies, which can confuse newcomers. While Destiny veterans may appreciate the MMO-style progression, console players less familiar with gacha structures may find the systems tedious.
Still, as an alternate take on the Destiny franchise, Destiny: Rising works better than expected. Its mix of shooter gameplay, MMO raids, and generous gacha mechanics provides a mobile title that doesn’t feel like a shallow cash grab. For new players, it may even serve as a smoother gateway into the franchise than Destiny 2 itself.
